McDonnell Douglas F-4S/L Phantom II - Late Serving Naval Phantom

Would you like to see this plane added to the tech tree?
  • Yes
  • No
0 voters
Where should it go?
  • Foldered with the F-4J
  • After the F-4J (Rank VII)
  • Before the F-14 (Rank VIII)
  • Premium/Squadron/Gift
  • I don’t want it added
0 voters
If it is added, should the name of the current premium F-4S be changed?
  • No, leave it as F-4S and add this one as F-4S (1984)
  • Yes, change it to F-4S/E or F-4S (Early), and add this one as F-4S
  • Yes, change it to F-4S (VF-301) and add this one as F-4S
  • Yes, change it to represent an F-4J of VF-301 (or another Squadron) and add this one as F-4S
  • Something else
  • I don’t want it added
0 voters

This is a suggestion for a late-service version of the F-4S, in the latter days of it’s career and approaching the time when it would be retired. Compared to the F-4J and the current premium F-4S, this boasts AIM-9Ls and AIM-7Ms, allowing it to be a threat against the more advanced jets it would fight.

F-4S/L
/L here stands for Late, as is found in Typhoon Mk Ib/L.
Represented in a mid-80s configuration.


F-4S of VF-161 during the final Phantom launch from a Carrier, 1986

Background
The F-4S was the result of a life-extension program for the F-4J, intended to keep the aircraft in service with the USN and the USMC until the new F-14 and F/A-18 were available in numbers to replace them. While no F-4S took part in Vietnam, they would nevertheless continue to be an integral part of the Navy and Marine Corps Air Component until they were finally retired; 1986 from USN Carrier Operations, 1987 by the USN Reserve, and in 1992 by the Marine Corps, ending the Phantom’s career as a carrier aircraft.

In Navy service, the F-4S was used by 12 squadrons:
VF-74 “Be-Devilers,” and VF-171 “Aces” of the Atlantic Fleet,
VF-21 “Freelancers,” VF-121 “Pacemaker,” VF-151 “Vigilantes,” VF-154 “Black Knights,” and VF-161 “Chargers” of the Pacific Fleet,
VF-201 “Hunters,” VF-202 “Superheats,” VF-301 “Devil’s Disciples/Blazing Inferno,” and VF-302 “Stallions” of the Reserve,
and VX-4 “Evaluators” of Air Development.

In Marine Corps service, the F-4S was used by 12 squadrons:
VMFA-112 “Cowboys,” VMFA-115 “Silver Eagles,” VMFA-134 “Smoke,” VMFA-212 “Lancers,” VMFA-232 “Red Devils,” VMFA-235 “Death Angels,” VMFA-251 “Thunderbolts,” VMFA-312 “Checkerboards,” VMFA-321 “Hell’s Angels,” VMFA-333 “Fighting Shamrocks,” VMFA-451 “Warlords,” and VFMAT-101 “Sharpshooters.”

The last active duty Navy Phantoms were from VF-151 and VF-161, being retired in 1986. The F-4S was retired from Naval Reserve shortly thereafter, when VF-202 retired their last Phantom in 1987. The Marines held onto theirs for a bit longer, with VMFA-112 finally retiring the Phantom in 1992, closing out the Phantom’s career as a carrier aircraft.

Specifications
Unlike other versions of the F-4, the F-4S has no “Block” number, because it was an upgrade program instead of a production change.

General Information
Length 58ft 3in (17.76m)
Wingspan 38ft 5in (11.7m) 27ft 7in (8.4m) wing folded
Height 16ft 6in (5m)
Engines 2 x J79-GE-10B smokeless engines ~11,810lbf non-afterburning (~5357kgf)
~17,820 lbf afterburning (~8083kgf)
Empty Weight 31,745lb (14399kg)
Fuel Capacity 1368 US gal (5178 L) internal fuselage + 630 US gal (2385 L) internal wing
600 US gal (2271 L) external centerline + 2 x 370 US gal (1400 L) external wing
Total Fuel Load 1998 US gal (7563 L) internal 1340 US gal (5071 L) external (3 tanks)
Hardpoints - 9 total 5 external hardpoints 4 semi-recessed Sparrow hardpoints
Ordnance
Ordnance
Air-to-Air
IR
AIM-9G
AIM-9H
AIM-9P-4 All-Aspect AIM-9P; not used by Navy, present for progression (optional)
AIM-9L All-Aspect
Radar
AIM-7E
AIM-7E-2/E-3 AIM-7E-3 is AIM-7E-2 with fusing changes
AIM-7F
AIM-7M
Air-to-Ground
Bombs
Mk 81 250lb (LDGP/Snakeye)
Mk 82 500lb (LDGP/Snakeye/LGB)
Mk 83 1000lb (LDGP/Retard/LGB)
M117 750lb (GP/Retard)
Mk 77 Mod 4 500lb Napalm
Mk 78 750lb Napalm
Mk 79 1000lb Napalm
CBU-59/B Cluster
CBU-99/100 Rockeye II (Cluster)
Rockets
Mighty Mouse FFAR
Hydra 70 FFAR
Zuni FFAR
Other
AN/ALQ-120 ECM
Mk 4 Mod 0 Gun Pod (Mk 11 Mod 5)
AN/ALE-37 Countermeasure Dispenser
Avionics
Radar AN/APG-59( ) with AN/AWG-10B FCR
RWR AN/ALR-45(V)
IFF AN/ASX-76A
HUD LCOSS Similar HUD to other Phantoms
HMS AN/AVG-8 VTAS
CM AN/ALE-29A Integrated Countermeasure Dispenser
Cockpit Images

Conclusion
In game this aircraft would be an upgrade of the F-4J, serving as the US’ answer to the late MiG-23s and the F-4EJ Kai. It would likely play the same (or very similar) to the EJ Kai, with the main difference being lacking an internal gun and having a harder to use radar. The HUD, while it’s existence is up in the air, would be a substantial improvement over the F-4E and F-4J for sim players, and the improved weaponry would be a welcome addition to air battles. Sadly, I don’t think it could mount a laser designator such as Pave Knife, so the laser guided bombs would have to wait until buddy lasing is a thing, or just have the LGBs unimplemented.
For a stock loadout, 4x AIM-9G and 4x AIM-7E are ideal, assuming SARHs come stock. The AIM-9H and AIM-7E-2 should be Rank 1 modifications, the AIM-9P-4 (if present) and AIM-7F at Rank 3, and AIM-9L and AIM-7M at Rank 4. If AIM-7s are not included stock, then the AIM-7E can just be ignored entirely, and the plane can start with AIM-7E-2/E-3.

Additionally, given that the F-4S technically already exists in the form of a premium, either this Phantom would need to have a unique name, such as F-4S/L or F-4S (1984), or the premium would need to be renamed. The premium could also be downgraded to be an F-4J of VF-301 (or another Squadron), since its at the same BR as the F-4J. Said downgrade would only involve minor changes and the removal of the AIM-9H, as otherwise the aircraft are the same.
Personally, I would want the current F-4S to be changed to an F-4J due to the similarities in armament and the fact they are the same battle rating, but only if it does not get AIM-9Ls or AIM-7Fs; otherwise it should just be renamed. I also think the F-4S, as in the one suggested here, would fit well as a dual-addition with the F-4E/L, which I made a post for here

Sources

Joe Baugher’s Website, F-4S Page
NATOPS F-4J Manual
Standard Aircraft Configuration F-4S (1984)
Instruments of the F-4J/S

Gallery


F-4S of VF-74 “Be-Devilers” escorting a Tu-95 off the East Coast of the US, 1982


F-4S of VMFA-134 “Smoke,” 1987


F-4S of VMFA-333 “Fighting Shamrocks,” 1979


Two F-4S of VF-301 “Devil’s Disciples/Blazing Inferno,” 1982

image

F-4S of VMFA-321 “Hell’s Angels,” 1991(?)


F-4S of VMFA-321 “Hell’s Angels,” at NAS Miramar, aka TOPGUN, 1987

image

F-4S of VMFA-232, at the National Air and Space Museum


F-4S of the US Navy Reserve landing on USS America (CV-66), 1986. Squadron Unknown, probably VF-201 “Hunters.” Visible in the background are F/A-18 Hornets.

Thank you for reading. Please let me know if I missed anything.

Edit: general touch ups and a link to the new F-4E/L post. I would change the polls to be nicer but I can’t without closing them (and I don’t want to do that)

7 Likes

I would recommend to keep the current F-4S as it is and folder this new F-4S with F-4J.

3 Likes

I wish we had gotten an F-4N with 9Ls as the premium and this as TT…
Such a waste to take the best American F-4 variant, give it nerfed armaments, and lock it behind a paywall.

6 Likes

Either a late F-4N or F-4D, since F-4Ds were also upgraded eventually with CM dispensers, 9Ls, and 7Fs.
Plus, lots of cool camos for either aircraft

1 Like

Potentials of F-4S (1984) would be 11.7 or 12.0 BR at early rank 8 and fill gap between F-4J Phantom II & F-14A (Early) Tomcat

F-4D armed SARH MRAAM like F-4E except no AIM-9J, GBU-15(V)1/B & AGM-65B Maverick, and equipped laser designator pods AN/AVQ-10 Pave Knife

1 Like

+1

4D, not E or J? Seems like a very outdated model to be the one receiving those weapons.
Also as an air force model the D would be in a different line than this.

Id like to see the premium F4S get it’s guided bombs & aim9l

F-4Ds and Cs were used by the reserves and national guard into the early 1990s

Also, I completely missed the second part of what you said: I was meaning an F-4D as the premium whereas the F-4S could be TT

Navy Phantoms never had guided bombs, only the AF ones did

1 Like

Hello.
I recently knew that F-4S (the premium version) only has one skin: the VF 301 (1984)
F-4S were used in more squadrons, such as VMA 321, VMFA 333, VF 151…
every F-4S in these squadrons had different color schemes. (Especially VMA 321)
So, my request was: what if in a future update, F-4S Will have more skins?
Thanks so much, (and sorry for bad english)

As an update, the WT F-4S now has marketplace skins, one from VFMA-321 and one from VMFA-212

1 Like

And sadly neither are low-vis :(

1 Like

+1 you can never have too many phantoms…

2 Likes

+1, I support to have more modern F-4 Phantoms in this game. It is an excellent idea to folder this F-4S (1984) with F-4J for the USN/USMC the same way as F-4E-53 (1983) in a folder with the original F-4E for the USAF. Both can equip AIM-9L and AIM-7F to make them more capable in the Air RB meta despite their subpar maneuverability.

1 Like

So just an update, I changed the suggestion title to match my new F-4E/L suggestion. I would change the polls but I don’t want to reset them

3 Likes